Local Sikhs pray for Wisconsin victims

By Abe Levy :
August 6, 2012
: Updated: August 6, 2012 11:44pm

Addison Freeman, right, a Christian, and Lukman Ahmed, with red scarf, a Muslim, take part in a candlelight service at the Sikh Center of San Antonio, vigil for the Sikh members killed in a temple in Wisconsin. Monday, Aug. 6, 2012.

Photo By Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News

Kulbir Singh, meditates during a special service at the Sikh Center of San Antonio, a vigil for the Sikh members killed in a temple in Wisconsin. Monday, Aug. 6, 2012.

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Sikhism

Members: An estimated 27 million worldwide, mostly in India, and regarded as the fifth-largest religion. An estimated half-million are in the U.S., including 250-plus families in San Antonio.

Founded: In 15th century India by Guru Nanak, critical of rituals in Islam and Hinduism and the prevailing caste system

Beliefs: One God who is the same for all faiths; central ideals of human equality and peaceful coexistence

Practices: Prayer in temples called "gurdwaras" overseen by priests, but lay people and non-adherents viewed as equal. Observant men wear turbans and don't cut their hair or beards.

The shooting rampage inside a Wisconsin temple reverberated Monday in San Antonio as dozens of local Sikhs gathered to pray for the victims and to invite the community to learn about their faith and stand in solidarity.

On Monday night, the Sikh Center of San Antonio held a special prayer service and candlelight vigil with more than 150 people. Some were not Sikh, including Jews, Hindus and Christians, who came to observe prayer and listen to their hymns. They removed their shoes in the main hall and then had a vegetarian meal afterward.

The San Antonio Sikh community counts 250-plus families in its fold and, like its counterparts worldwide, has a history of working to foster religious tolerance in light of the Sept. 11 attacks. They often have been misunderstood to be Muslim in hate crimes after

9-11, especially Sikh men who wear turbans and grow beards.

The monotheistic religion, established in 15th-century India, is rooted in human equality and peace, prompting some Sikhs on Monday to question again why they would be targeted for such bloodshed.

“We truly believe this (tragedy) is out of ignorance,” said Balwinder Dhillon, temple president and president and CEO of Amer Technology in San Antonio. “We understand there are people who don't know what Sikhs are about.”

The temple campus is in Northwest San Antonio, a wooded, quiet property where the Sikh community built its first house of worship in 2000, when there were 50 families.

Sikhism is considered the world's fifth largest religion, but it is a small minority in Texas. By comparison, Catholics have 529,000 members in Bexar County and Catholicism is the region's largest faith, according to the Association of Religion Data Archives.

On Monday, guests from other religions saw how Sikhs prayed for the gunman and his family and received donations for victims.

“Tragedies such as this know no religion, ethnicity or age,” said M.H. Levine, executive director of Jewish Family Service, addressing the assembly. “At a time like this, we all must clearly stand together.”

alevy@express-news.net

Correction: The caption of a photo on Tuesday's page A1 of the Express-News and on mySA.com contained an error. Addison Freeman was one of the two people shown taking part in a vigil at the Sikh Temple of San Antonio.